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2006-11-23 News Release

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The switchless switch with plastics tweezers

EXTRACT plastics tweezers, regarded as the technology of the future in the field of electronics, combine mechanical, optical and electronic elements in a unique way.

The design concept of the new EXTRACT plastics tweezers is based on giant squid that live in the depths of the ocean and use bioluminescent skin patterns to attract their prey and mates. The key feature of the plastic tweezers, which are as strong as steel ones, is the “SmartSwitch System,” a new, invisible switch technology that works without any buttons or wires. When the transparent arms are touched, the tips of the tweezers light up. The “field of operation” is lit up at exactly the right moment – thorns or splinters don’t stand a chance.

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An interdisciplinary team at Bayer MaterialScience, one of the world’s largest polymer manufacturers, took only four months to develop the tweezers based on the company’s own materials. The tweezers combine mechanical, optical and electronic elements in a unique way. “These types of mechoptronic systems are regarded as the technology of the future in the field of electronics. We want to use EXTRACT to highlight our position as a competent development partner and supplier of tailor-made plastics and to show that we are the driving force for new ideas in growth industries,” explains Eckard Foltin, head of the Creative Center at Bayer MaterialScience. He is sure that the mechoptronic concept behind EXTRACT will not only provide impetus for the field of electronics, but will also have a key role to play in the automotive industry. “For example, we believe there is a gap in the market for a wide range of contact switches for switching roof or emergency lighting on and off or adjusting the steering wheel.”

EXTRACT high-tech plastics tweezers developed by Bayer MaterialScience form the basis for innovative applications. Click Go for High resolution image. photo: Bayer MaterialScience

The light focused on the tips of the tweezers comes from LEDs integrated in the body of the tweezers together with a battery and other electronic components. The arms are made of the transparent polycarbonate Makrolon*. They are coated with a special polyurethane coating, which creates the “SmartSwitch System” when used in combination with the polycarbonate. The coating was developed in cooperation with Bayer MaterialScience’s partner company KRD Coatings GmbH. It is abrasion resistant, elastic, transparent, and chemically extremely stable. The coating’s key feature is its electrical conductivity, achieved using an electrically conductive polymer as an additive. When the user touches the transparent, coated tweezer arms, the circuit is completed and the light goes on. The multi-functional material concept also offers advantages in terms of energy efficiency. The LEDs only light up as long as necessary, a factor that increases their service life and reduces the load on the battery.

The body of the tweezers is made of Desmopan* 385 S. This thermoplastic polyurethane has very stable mechanical properties and protects the internal components against compressive loads, impact stress, dust and splashing water. At the same time, the material is soft and smooth, ensuring that the tweezers sit comfortably in the hand.

The interdisciplinary team behind EXTRACT was headed by Ralph Schneider, at that time a mechanical engineering student, as part of his degree thesis on project management. “We place great value on the creativity and know-how found in universities and colleges, which is why we are always on the look-out for worthwhile collaborations,” explains Foltin. Today, Schneider is engaged in other projects that the Creative Center is working on in the area of “SmartSwitch Systems.” The project has already been a success, with a number of companies having already expressed an interest in installing these “switchless switches” in their products.

* Makrolon and Desmopan are registered trademarks of Bayer MaterialScience AG.

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